In January 2020, I will be returning to the Pacific coast of Mexico for my second year as a volunteer veterinarian with the Mazunte Project. This incredible project, now in its 19th year, partners with the Palmarito Sea Turtle Rescue, working to reduce local dog overpopulation, and in turn, decrease predation of endangered sea turtle eggs and hatchlings on the beaches of Oaxaca. This region of Mexico is home to one of the most important sea turtle (Olive Ridley, Green, and Leatherback) nesting grounds in the world. Beaches full of turtle eggs become an easy food source for the local roaming dogs.
 
For 5 days each year, approximately 50 volunteer vets, technicians, students and assistants work in teams to run daily free mobile spay/neuter clinics in remote surrounding towns and villages.  Communities here have no access to a local animal shelter or medical care. In addition to reducing the sheer number of dogs, the project improves the animals’ quality of life through parasite control, decreased disease transmission, and education.  Last year, the project treated approximately 700 dogs (and cats), resulting in approximately 40,000-60,000 additional sea turtle hatchlings making it into the ocean that season.  Given that only about 1 in every 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings will then survive to reach adulthood, this is of vital importance to their species survival!
 
Working conditions are very basic, and volunteers bring all their own supplies, from trash bags, lights and portable surgery tables, to surgical instruments, suture, anesthetics, antibiotics, dewormer, flea/tick preventatives and other medical supplies.  Donations will help pay for these supplies, offset travel expenses, as well as go directly to The Palmarito Sea Turtle Rescue organization.
https://www.facebook.com/palmaritoseaturtlerescue/
https://www.palmaritoseaturtlerescue.org
The sea turtles, dogs, cats, and their people are grateful for your help! Any small amount can make a difference!